Canon II.
But in the case of those who, after that they were
thrown into prison, and in the dungeon, as in a place besieged, endured
afflictions and
nauseous
odours, but afterwards, without the conflict of torments, were led
captive, being broken in spirit by poverty of strength, and a certain
blindness of the understanding, a year in addition to the foregoing
time will suffice; for they gave themselves up to be afflicted for the
name of Christ, even though in their dungeon they enjoyed much
consolation from their brethren; which, indeed, they shall return many
fold, desiring to be set free from that most bitter captivity of the
devil, especially remembering Him who said: “The spirit of
the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the Gospel
to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to
set at liberty them that are bruised; to preach the acceptable year of
the Lord, and the day of recompense unto our God.”
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Balsamon
. This canon
enacts that those who have only been evil entreated in prison, and who
without torment have lapsed, should be punished after the three years
with an additional year. For though they obtained consolation,
certain of the faithful ministering to them the necessaries of life,
yet they ought to obtain pardon, as being those who have suffered
severely for the faith.
Zonaras
. In the second
order, he places those who have only been thrown into prison, and evil
entreated in the dungeon, and yet, though harassed by no torments, have
offended; upon whom, besides the time past, the three years, namely, of
which we have spoken, he proposes to inflict the penalty of an
additional year, since they also, says he, have for Christ’s name
endured hardness, even though it may be that they obtained some
consolation from the brethren whilst in prison. For it is
probable that the faithful, who were not in custody, ministered to
those in bonds the necessaries of life, and brought to them some
alleviation of their lot. Which things, indeed, they shall return
many fold; for those consolations which they enjoyed in prison they
shall vex themselves with penance, and afflict themselves in diverse
ways, if they wish to be set free from the captivity of the devil,
having become his captives and slaves by their denial of Christ.
He subjoins the word of the prophet, taken from Isaiah, which he says
that they ought to keep in remembrance.
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Isa. lxi. 1, 2; Luke iv. 18,
19
.